BLAINE, Wash. — The Blaine City Council approved applying $4,500 in a combined donation made by local offices of Country Financial and Umpqua Bank toward the Blaine Police K9 Fund.
There was a K9 program in Blaine from 2001 to 2014 that was supported almost entirely by local donations according to Blaine Police Department Lieutenant Michael Munden.
“Although the program is not in service, the City has an existing account for the Canine fund,” Munden told Whatcom News.
The donation will go into the Police K9 Fund and will be used once enough has been collected to start the program, Munden said. They have not been soliciting for donations.
Munden did not say what the fund balance needed to be to be able to relaunch the K9 program but did detail many of the costs involved. They include the following.
- Trained dogs are $7,000 to $10,000 each
- K9 container vehicle inserts are $2,500 each
- Various equipment including training equipment is about $2,000
- Enclosed chain-link kennels are required at each handler’s residence (prices vary)
- Ongoing expenses such as dog food and pet insurance are about $100 per month each